【10】Mimurotoji/第十番 明星山 三室戸寺

Mimuroto-ji (三室戸寺) in Uji is one of those temples that earns every one of its nicknames — “Flower Temple,” “Hydrangea Temple,” “Lotus Temple.” I visited in June when both the ajisai and lotus were in bloom, and honestly, it felt like walking into a painting.

A few things to know before you go: this temple is tucked into the hills of Uji, about a 20-minute walk from Mimuroto Station on the Keihan line. It’s a bit of a journey from central Kyoto, so give yourself plenty of travel time. And once you’re there, don’t rush — the grounds are surprisingly large, and you’ll want to wander slowly through the hydrangea hillside, the lotus courtyard, and all the mossy stone details in between.

After exploring and collecting my goshuin, I made a beeline for 花の茶屋 (Hana no Chaya), the seasonal teahouse that only opens during peak bloom periods. It’s right there on the temple grounds, which is perfect because by that point your legs are ready for a break. I ordered the Mimuroto udon set — a generous bowl topped with shredded egg, shiitake, and kamaboko, plus a side of takikomi gohan. Filling and comforting. But the real showstopper was the ajisai (hydrangea) parfait: layers of purple ice cream, flower-shaped jellies, mochi balls, and a wafer, all arranged to look like a little hydrangea garden in a glass. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

If you’re planning a Kyoto trip during rainy season (June–July), put this one on your list. The hydrangeas are absolutely spectacular, the lotus adds another layer of beauty, and capping it all off with seasonal sweets inside the temple grounds just makes the whole visit feel complete.

One tip: build in at least two hours for the full experience — flowers, temple, tea, and all.

Walking through the striking vermilion main gate of Mimurotoji temple, with visitors filing in along a tree-lined path that climbs into the lush green hillside beyond.

三室戸寺（みむろとじ）に行ってきました。京都府宇治市にあり、京都駅からは少し離れていますので移動時間に余裕を持って。ツツジ・アジサイ・ハスなど四季の花が美しいことから「花の寺」「あじさい寺」「蓮の寺」とも呼ばれる古刹です。6月はアジサイ、ハスの季節だったので素敵なお花の写真も撮れました。

参拝後、御朱印をいただき、お庭を散策。かなり広いので滞在時間にも余裕を持ちたいところ。

境内にある「花の茶屋」ではお食事屋スイーツも味わえます。みむろとうどんセット（かやくご飯付)とあじさいパフェがオススメ。